WRNMMC, Bethesda, MD  –   Army Sgt. 1^st Class Nathan D. Tormala has been awarded the Order of Military Medical Merit and inducted into the 02M3 society. He was recognized for his dedication, commitment and professionalism within the US Army for over 22 years, including two abroad deployments.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Director Army Brig. Gen. Jack Davis said the award is important to recognize contributions made by individual members of the Walter Reed family towards building the bigger picture of delivering commitment and excellence. “Sgt. Tormala, you are now a symbol of excellence and a reflection of hope that we are getting back to things we used to do and enjoy before COVID-19,” he said.
“With that, I present to you all, the newest awardee of military medical merit, Sgt.1^st Class Nathan D. Tormala in recognition of his service to the U.S. Army medical combat unit,” Davis added, followed by a round of applause from service members present on the ground floor of WRNMMC’s Building 1.
Receiving the award, Sgt. Tormala thanked the Army and hospital leadership, his colleagues, family and friends for the honor bestowed on him. “In reality, this award would not have been made possible without all your efforts. This is not just for me, but for everyone I have worked with over the years at home and abroad including my wife, students I have taught and colleagues in the field, in times of peace and combat. Thank you all for the honor, I’m grateful,” he said.
Tormala has served in the U.S. Army for more than two decades. He was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent 27 months in both countries as a combat medic, treating wounded colleagues and civilians. He also trained more than 150 Afghan national army surgeons in military medicine and combat readiness.  He did same in Iraq, training over 300 police and military personnel in emergency care and military medicine.  
“He has demonstrated talent, professionalism, courage and exceptional performance in the medical combat unit, a reason he has been inducted into the military medical merit or the O2M3 society of the Army,” said Army Master Sgt. Daniel Cummings, the MC of the event.
The Order of Military Medical Merit or 02M3 society is a private organization within the Army founded by an Army general in April 1982 to recognize excellence and promote fellowship across the force.